Gloria D. (Smith) White, 79, of Helena, passed away Friday, Dec. 24, 2010, at St. Peter’s Hospital. She was born on April 22, 1931, to Henry J. and Doris V. (Samuels) Smith in Butte. In 1941, the family moved to Helena where she attended the Cathedral and Hawthorne Grade schools and graduated from Helena High School.
Gloria went to Washington, D.C,. in 1961, where she worked for Congressman Arnold Olsen. While there, she attended inauguration ceremonies for President John F. Kennedy; it was a wonderful experience for Gloria. After her return to Montana, she worked five years for U.S. Immigration and Naturalization. On Sept. 23, 1967, she married S. L. (Jim) White in Missoula. They lived in Helena all of their married life. She then went on to work for various state agencies, including Secretary of State Frank Murray and the Board of Equalization. She retired in 1985, after completing 14 years of service with the Department of Highways.
Gloria loved to travel and did so extensively. She had a great love of animals and usually had a cat for company. Her latest is Alex. She had been a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Community and also belonged to the Metropolitan Dinner Club for several years.
Gloria was preceded in death by her mother in April 1973; her husband in January 1990; and her father in April 1999.
Survivors include her sister and brother-in-law, Betty and James R. Konen of Butte. Since she had no children, their family was also hers, and she loved them dearly. They include nephew, Jim and Gina Konen, and their children, Kallen and AJ Konen of Butte, and Brooke and Nathan Allen of Casper, Wyo.; a niece, Jane Konen of Butte; nephew, John Konen, and his wife, Debby Grant, of Duluth, Minn.; and nephew, Jeff and Jackie Konen, and their children, Alex and Nick of Beaverton, Ore.
At Gloria’s request, no formal funeral services are planned. A graveside committal service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Memorials in Gloria’s name are suggested to Scleroderma Foundation, 300 Rosewood Drive, Suite 105, Danvers, MA 01923. To offer condolences to the family or to share a memory of Gloria, please visit www.retzfuneralhome.com.
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Rae Olsen says
My condolences to Gloria’s family – she was a kind and gentle lady and will be missed by all who knew her.
Shirley Serrano says
Gloria was a good friend of my mother, Teresa Hartzog, and someone I always looked forward to seeing when I visited Helena. She will be missed. I send my heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.
Joe & Cherie Shevlin says
Our thoughts and prayers for Gloria and her family. She was a fine lady and will be missed by all, especially her neighbors at Heather Garden.
John and Marion Sands says
We will miss our cousin, Gloria. We send our condolences to Betty and all the Konen family. She was so proud and full of love for all of you.
Gloria Nisbet and Mary Aitken says
We would also like to send our deepest sympathies to the family. My mother Mary Aitken was penfriends with Gloria for over 60yrs. My mother thought of her as one of her best friends. They met when Gloria travelled with her job to Scotland in the early 50’s. I was named after her. So sad to hear you are gone.
Peace be with you.